"Thank you, please come again!" Natsumi said with a bright smile, waving off the customer. She sighed as she looked around the small convenience store, there weren't that many shoppers tonight with the storm. She looked through the glass windows next to the counter and watched as the rain came down in thick sheets.

"Pretty gloomy night." Her boss, Mr. Himoto said as he brought out some crates from the back. Natsumi turned to smile at the kind old man,

"Do you want me to get those sir?" She asked. Mr. Himoto was a man in his late fifties with a large belly and a head of black hair with streaks of grey. He had a full mustache that hid his upper lip, except when he laughed loudly. He was shorter than Natsumi, which made him almost dwarfish compared to others since she was considered pretty short herself.

"No-No...I can get these." He said and she nodded as she scanned the store once more. The bell rang signalling a new customer. She turned to greet them and froze. Ryuu was staring at her with a raised brow and Natsumi blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't imagining things. Then her brain caught up and she shook her head, frowning at him.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as he walked up to the counter in silence. She narrowed her gaze, wondering what would bring him to a small store like this. He stopped in front of the register and sat something on the counter without saying a word. She glanced down and gasped. It was her umbrella! She slapped her forehead and groaned.

"I can't believe...I was in such a rush...Thank you Ryuu-san." She said as she realized that he had taken the time to deliver this to her. She took the item and stored it under the counter before straightening up and smiling up at him.

"I don't know how you knew this was mine but-"

"Really? I think even an idiot would recognize your strange obsession." He said and she frowned, puffing out her cheeks.

"It's not an obsession. Just because I like strawberries-"

"And have them on everything you own." He interrupted with a slanted grin. She ignored him and finished her sentence with a huff,

"Doesn't mean I'm obsessed with them. Shouldn't you be heading home now?" She asked in irritation. He shrugged and looked around the store.

"Do you work every night?" He asked and she blinked, being thrown off by the question. She shrugged and smiled over at Mr. Himoto who was sitting in his usual spot reading a magazine.

"I work four nights a week or whenever Mr. Himoto needs an extra hand." She said and Ryuu grunted in response and glanced around the store.

"What do you do when your shift's over?" He asked and she frowned tilting her head in confusion.

"I walk home." She deadpanned as if he really was an idiot. He glanced back at her with a raised brow again, this expression was starting to grate on her.

"Alone?" He asked and she shrugged, not seeing his point. She began to organize things around the counter deciding that maybe if she ignored him, he would leave. She was aware of the fact that he was watching her, but forced herself to continue to ignore him. He eventually turned and walked out of the store. Natsumi let out a sigh of relief and continued working as if nothing had happened. She didn't understand why he seemed to care. Her house was only a street away so it wasn't a far walk and she made sure to call her mom as soon as she left the store.

But she was thankful that he had brought her umbrella. She would have gotten another long lecture from her mother if she had come home soaked again. She glanced over as Mr. Himoto chuckled and flipped the page of his magazine. She smiled and asked,

"What's so funny sir? See some new scandalous story?" She knew he was overly fond of those. He was like an old gossiping lady some days, but he was the kindest boss she could ever ask for. He never complained when she showed up a few minutes late and was nice enough to give her a job that worked around her school work and new tutoring responsibilities. He glanced at her with a sly grin as he flipped through another page.

"You're boyfriend's quite the protective type isn't he?" He teased and Natsumi felt her cheeks heat up as she shook her head. She returned her attention to wiping down the counter as she set the record straight.

"Ryuu-san isn't my boyfriend sir. I wouldn't even call him a friend. He's just a boy from school. I'm just his tutor for the time being. I can barely stand him sometimes." She said and Mr. Himoto made a noise that said he didn't believe her. She blushed brighter and continued to defend herself.

"He's just a fellow student that I hardly know. We only see each other during our study sessions...and today at lunch I suppose-but that doesn't mean we like each other! He probably forgets who I am the minute he leaves my sight." She huffed, hating the irritation that raced through her. She was used to people ignoring and forgetting her, except when they wanted to make rude comments. She had grown to accept their attitudes and one more person shouldn't make such a difference. Especially when he treated everyone the same.

"So...You think he doesn't see you as anything...not even a friend?" Mr. Himoto asked 'innocently', but she heard the teasing tone lying underneath. She put her nose in the air and nodded. He chuckled and glanced over at her with a strange spark in his eyes.

"Really? Then why is he still standing outside?" He asked, returning to his magazine. Natsumi jumped and swung around so fast she almost slipped on the tiled floor. She looked through the window to see him standing off to the side, under the awning and out of the rain. She could see the light from the screen on his phone as he leaned against the stone wall. She groaned and walked around the counter and past a chuckling Mr. Himoto as she walked outside, turning to face him with her hands on her hips.

"What do you think you're doing?" She asked and was even more annoyed when he continued to stare at his phone. She gritted her teeth and made a grab for it, but he was paying more attention than he let on as he put his hand out and grabbed her forehead, holding her off. She growled and slapped his hand away, crossing her arms as she looked up to see him grinning.

"Well?" She asked again, her frustration rising. He shrugged, but didn't respond. She rolled her eyes and slapped his arm. That got him to finally look over at her with a frown of his own now.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Words. You know those things you use to express how you're feeling?" She said and he narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"I have a few choice ones coming to mind at the moment." He hissed and she pouted as she crossed her arms again. He sighed and put his phone away as he turned to face her completely.

"It didn't feel right leaving you to walk home alone. So I thought I would offer you a ride once you were off, but I forgot to ask when your shift ends." He said and she blinked as her mouth fell open in shock. That was not what she had been expecting him to say. His face remained the same as he watched her process everything. She felt her cheeks heat up again as she turned away from him.

"You don't have to feel obligated to do something like that. I can walk home. Thank you for the offer though." She said, clasping her hands behind her back. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall again, looking up at the rain, it didn't look like it would let up anytime soon. He looked down the street to his waiting car and sighed. He pulled out his phone and dialed the number. Natsumi assumed he was calling to be picked up and turned to walk back into the store.

"Go ahead and take off. I'll call when I'm ready." He said and she stopped, whipping around to see him placing the phone back in his pocket and resuming his position against the wall. She looked to see the black car turn around and drive off without its passenger. She frowned at Ryuu.

"You don't have to wait." She said and he shrugged, looking over at her with a bored expression.

"You're right. I don't have to do anything I don't want to."

"Then just go-"

"So I'm not leaving." He cut her off and her mouth snapped closed as she looked up at his set expression, his hard eyes boring into her and demanding that she give in. She sighed and shook her head.

"If you want to be so stubborn fine. But at least come inside or else someone will call on you for being a creeper." She huffed, hearing the soft chuckle as he followed her back into the store. She ignored the grin on Mr. Himoto's face as he watched Ryuu walk through the store. She took her place behind the counter again, watching Ryuu through lowered lashes as he browsed through a few items. She was surprised when he came up to the counter carrying two sodas.

She shrugged and rang him up, took his money and gave him his change. Then she gave him a fake smile and in a sarcastic tone whispered,

"Thank you sir, please come again."

Ryuu grinned at this and held up the second soda.

"Keep it up Kimoto and I'll drink this myself." He said, then held the soda out to her. Her eyes widened as she took the can of soda and quietly thanked him. She watched as he then walked around the store, drinking his soda. She opened hers and felt Mr. Himoto move behind her to 'check' the magazine rack on the counter. He grinned and whispered,

"He's cute. You should just make him your boyfriend already."

"Mr. Himoto!" She cried, blushing brightly as he laughed, patting his large belly. She groaned and looked over to see Ryuu watching them with a raised brow. She puffed out her cheeks and averted her eyes again.

The next few hours felt weird for her as she helped the few customers and stocked some shelves. She was aware of him the entire time and a few times he came to stand next to her and just watched her. It was strange and disconcerting to say the least. She was desperate to figure out his motives as he didn't seem like the type to act this way without a reason.

She had to ignore several more comments from Mr. Himoto about Ryuu being her boyfriend and as a result worked with flaming cheeks for the rest of her shift. She was even more surprised when Ryuu bought her another soda. She sighed and gave him a look.

"If you're serious about staying here until I'm done at least grab a broom and sweep. You're creeping people out." She muttered and he blinked, looked around the empty store and then back to her.

"And by people I'm assuming you mean you Kimoto?" He said with a small grin and she glared, sticking out her tongue at him. He chuckled and resumed his 'patrol' of the store and she sighed, shaking her head, but giving up and attempted to ignore him once more. Mr. Himoto decided to close up early because of the rain.

Natsumi sighed and checked the time. It was almost nine, but she was happy to be going home even a hour early. She took off her apron and hung it up on the hooks in the back room before grabbing her satchel and coat. She walked back out to the floor to see Ryuu waiting by the door for her. She started to head for him when he pointed at the counter. She blinked and then remembered as she ran behind it, grabbing her umbrella.

The two of them walked out as she called goodnight to her boss. She opened her umbrella and looked over to see him already holding his own, plain black umbrella as he waited. She sighed and stepped out into the rain, listening to the soft thuds the drops made against the material. The two walked side by side in silence as Natsumi hid under her umbrella, never thinking she would enjoy being short. But after only a few minutes she broke and let her curiosity take over.

"Why did you insist on waiting and walking me home Ryuu-san?" She whispered, not sure if he could hear her over the rain, especially since he didn't answer right away. She finally chanced a peek up at him as she lifted up her umbrella just enough to see his face. He was frowning slightly, his gaze ahead of them. She bit her lip, wondering if she should ask again.

"I wish I knew...but I couldn't leave you alone..." He finally mumbled, glancing down at her. She blinked in surprise as his crimson eyes flashed at her. She felt her cheeks heat up as a pink blush sprayed across the front of her face.

"What...what's that supposed to mean?" She asked uncertainly as she held his gaze, not brave enough to look away first. She felt her heart speed up as it awaited his answer. Finally he blew air through his nose and gave her a soft grin.

"I thought you were the smart one Kimoto...it means that I like you." He said and she squeaked, tripping over her own feet as she gaped up at him. He raised a brow and gave her a look that called her a 'weirdo'. She felt her face go up in flames as she tried to grasp onto something to say back, but came up empty. He watched her squirm for a few minutes before he rolled his eyes and asked,

"Don't look so surprised. It's not that big of a deal. I'm allowed to have a few in my life." He said with a slight growl as he continued walking. She gaped after him before running to catch up to him and cutting him off as she stood in front of him.

"Not a big deal!? What do you mean a few!?"

"Yeah so? You aren't as annoying as everyone else. I think it's only natural that I could see us as friends." He said with a raised brow and she froze.

"A-A friend? That's what you...that's what you meant?" She said feeling like a moron for jumping to conclusions. He stared at her strangely before grinning and asking,

"What exactly did you think I meant?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" She said twirling around and storming off. He caught up to her easily and she could just imagine the grin on his face as she kept her face hidden under the umbrella.

"You're so strange, you know that Kimoto." He teased and she groaned as she shot him a 'drop dead' look.

"You're the one who's so frustrating all the time." She pouted and he shrugged.

"Years of practice. What's your excuse?"

"Excuse for what? You just said I'm not annoying." She huffed and he shook his head as he looked ahead again and said,

"I said you're not as annoying as everyone else. You're still a pain in my ass." He said and she gritted her teeth as she glared at him.

"I didn't ask you to walk me home!" She shouted and he shrugged, stopping as they were in front of her building.

"Get used to it Kimoto." He said, waving lazily as he turned away from her, reaching for his phone and calling his car. She stared after him, her head filled with so much confusion that it hurt. This guy was more trouble than she ever would have thought. But if she had to take one positive thing away from this night it was this...

"At least I didn't get wet walking home?"